Numerous students, faculty members, and administrators from 40 Catholic schools across the Diocese of Cleveland joined Bishop Edward Malesic as they celebrated Catholic Schools Week with a Mass at the Cathedral of St. John the Evangelist on Jan. 31.
Celebrating Catholic Schools Week in Cleveland
The ceremony was presided over by Bishop Edward Malesic, and Auxiliary Bishop Michael Woost and several other priests participated as concelebrants.
According to the news published by the diocese, music was led by members of Lake Catholic High School's choir and instrumental ensembles. Students attending different high schools took part in the liturgy in a variety of roles, including readers, gift bearers, and altar servers.
“You are an important part of our Church right now. In fact, Scripture tells us that it is sometimes the little children who lead us. You certainly lead us by moving our hearts and making us want to give you our best,” the bishop said, as quoted in the report.
He explained to them that the liturgy's reason for being was to express gratitude for the Catholic schools, which are a blessing to them.
In addition to this, he encouraged the students to make the most of the gift of time by using it to study, grow, and become more mature, as well as to learn what it means to follow Jesus.
The bishop also encouraged the children to make the most of the time they spent participating in athletics so that they might improve their physical fitness and stamina and learn how to collaborate effectively as a group.
Aside from that, Malesic also informed them that taking an art lesson is a gift that can help them recognize the beauty that was created and contribute to the embellishment of the world, whereas music can speak to the human heart.
In addition, the bishop also emphasized that the students should take advantage of the miracles of science, as well as the knowledge of mathematics and engineering, in order to construct better bridges, produce better medicines, discover ways to adapt to or reverse climate change, and a variety of other things.
As per the report, understanding the complexity of the human race, overcoming racism and other prejudices, and learning to live together in better harmony and peace are all skills they can develop in English and humanities classes.
To illustrate his point, Malesic brought up the recent shooting of a young Black man in Memphis, Tennessee, and the subsequent outrage, stressing that God has given people gifts to build up the world in accordance with his plan of love.
The diocese and the rest of the country will celebrate Catholic Schools Week till Feb. 4. Open houses, Masses, and other festivities are being held all week at schools throughout the diocese in honor of the occasion.
About Diocese of Cleveland
On April 23, 1847, the Diocese of Cleveland of the Roman Catholic Church was established. This diocese is the twenty-third largest in the United States. Cuyahoga, Summit, Lorain, Lake, Geauga, Medina, Wayne, and Ashland are all included in the diocese's territory, as stated on its website.
The Diocese of Cleveland is among the world's largest diocesan networks of social services, serving the needs of over 613,000 Catholics. As a whole, the diocese consists of 185 churches, 108 Catholic schools, a pastoral center, and a mission office.
